
NOTE.—"The
worlds unfallen and the heavenly angels had watched
with intense interest as the conflict drew to its close. Satan and his
confederacy of evil, the legions of apostasy, watched intently this great
crisis in the work of redemption. The powers of good and evil waited to
see what answer would come to Christ's thrice-repeated prayer. Angels
had longed to bring relief to the divine sufferer, but this might not be.
No way of escape was found for the Son of God. In this awful crisis,
when everything was at stake, when the mysterious cup trembled in
the hand of the sufferer, the heavens opened, a light shone forth amid
the stormy darkness of the crisis hour, and the mighty angel who stands
in God's presence, occupying the position from which Satan fell, came
to the side of Christ. The angel came not to take the cup from Christ's
hand, but to strengthen Him to drink it, with the assurance of the
Father's love. He came to give power to the divine-human suppliant. He
pointed Him to the open heavens, telling Him of the souls that would be
saved as the result of His sufferings. He assured Him that His Father
is greater and more powerful than Satan, that His death would result in
the utter discomfiture of Satan, and that the kingdom of this world
would be given to the saints of the Most High. He told Him that He
would see of the travail of His soul,'and be satisfied, for He would see
a multitude of the human race saved, eternally saved."—Id., pp. 693, 694.
6.
What eiperience came to that band of men in Gethsemane when
Jesus answered them, "I am He"? John 18:4-6.
NomE.—"No traces of His recent agony were visible as Jesus stepped
forth to meet His betrayer. Standing in advance of His disciples, He
said, 'Whoin seek ye?' They answered, 'Jesus of Nazareth.' Jesus re-
plied,
'I
-
am
He.' As these words were spoken, the angel who had lately
ministered to Jesus, moved between Him and the mob. A. divine light
illuminated the Saviour's face, and a dovelike form overshadowed Him.
In the presence of this divine glory, the murderous throng could not
stand for a moment. They staggered back. Priests, elders, soldiers, and
even Judas, fell as dead men to the ground."—Id., p. 694.
7.
How didNSi on-Peter--attempt to.
s
defend
the Son of God from
the ayaCk6f the mob? Matt. 26:50,
51.
8.
Instead of having twelve men to defend Him, who were at His
command? Verses 52-54.
NomE.="Jesus bade him put up the sword, saying, ‘Thinkest thou
that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He shall presently give me
more than twelve legions of angels?' I saw that as these words were
spoken, the countenances of the angels were animated with hope. They
wished then and there to surround their Commander, and disperse that
angry mob. But again sadness settled upon them, as Jesus added, 'But
how then shall the Scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?' The
hearts of the disciples also sunk in despair and bitter disappointment,
as Jesus suffered Himself to be led away by His enemies.
"The disciples feared for their own lives, and they all forsook Him
and fled. Jesus was left alone in the hands of the murderous mob. Oh,
what a triumph of Satan then! And what sadness and sorrow with the
angels of God! Many companies of holy angels, each with a tall com-
manding angel at their head, were sent to witness the scene. They were
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